High speed interceptor boats sent to Pangong lake

Ladakh : India's defence establishment has sent a dozen of high-speed interceptor boats to Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh for strict surveillance along the India-China border where soldiers were locked in fierce confrontation.

A TOI report said that India does have 17 QRT (quick-reaction team) boats for patrolling the lake located an altitude of 13,900-feet since 2012-2013, but the need has been felt to further augment the force’s capabilities to match the heavier Type-928B patrol boats being used by the People’s Liberation Army there.

"But the plan will face a huge logistical challenge because it will be extremely tough to transport the new boats or fast-interceptor crafts to the high-altitude region. The boats may have to be dismantled and airlifted by C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft to Leh and then taken forward from there to reach the lake. It will take time," the report quoted a source.

Two-third of the 134-km-long Pangong lake is controlled by China and has been a flash point for the two nations since long time.

The Indian soldiers have been stopped from patrolling the area between Finger 4 and Finger 8 with major establishments being made by Chinese Army in the area, allegedly hinting that it is their territory.